Building the Heartbeat of Your Story Through Culture

Building the Heartbeat of Your Story Through Culture

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Foundations of World-Building: Bringing Your Fictional Worlds to Life

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The Business Stuff

  • A Quick Note Before You Start Foundations of World-Building
  • Earn 20% Commission as a WriterSpark Affiliate!
  • Special Offer!

Introduction & Overview of World-Building in Fiction Writing

  • Overview of Foundations of World-Building: Bringing Your Fiction to Life
  • Introduction to Foundations of World Building: Bringing Your Fictional Worlds to Life

Module 1: Crafting Immersive Worlds through Geography

  • Crafting Immersive Worlds Through Geography
  • Geography in World Building Activities
  • Geography World Building Activities-Downloadable
  • World Building Geography Reflection Questions-Downloadable
  • Creating a Map of Your World
  • Creating a Map for World-Building Downloadable Guide

Module 2: Developing Cultures and Societies in World-Building

  • Building the Heartbeat of Your Story Through Culture
  • Building Culture Examples
  • More on Building Cultures
  • Building Culture Activities-Downloadable
  • Building Culture Reflection Questions-Downloadable

Module 3: Developing Language in World-Building

  • The Power of Language
  • The Power of Language Examples
  • How Names Can Have Deeper Meanings
  • The Power of Language Activities-Downloadable
  • The Power of Language Reflection Questions-Downloadable

Module 4: History, Politics, and Government in World-Building

  • Developing History, Politics, & Government
  • Developing History, Politics, & Government Activities-Downloadable
  • Developing History, Politics, & Government Practice-Downloadable
  • Developing History, Politics, & Government Reflection Questions-Downloadable
  • Steps for Creating a Historical Timeline
  • Sample Historical Timeline Example from Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card

Module 5: Myth and Lore in World-Building

  • The Magic of Myth & Lore
  • The Magic of Myth & Lore Activities-Downloadable
  • The Magic of Myth & Lore Reflection Questions-Downloadable

Module 6: Focusing on Fantasy and Sci-Fi in World-Building

  • The Dimensions of Science Fiction and Fantasy
  • The Dimensions of Science Fiction and Fantasy Activities-Downloadable
  • The Dimensions of Science Fiction and Fantasy Reflection Questions-Downloadable
  • The Dimensions of Science Fiction and Fantasy Guided Practice-Downloadable

Module 7: Creating Magical Worlds

  • Creating Spellbinding Magic Systems
  • Creating Spellbinding Magic Systems Reflection Questions-Downloadable
  • Creating Spellbinding Magic Systems-Downloadable

Module 8: Focusing on Contemporary Fiction in World-Building

  • Getting Real with Contemporary (and Historical) Fiction
  • Getting Real with Contemporary Fiction Activities-Downloadable
  • Getting Real with Contemporary Fiction Reflection Questions-Downloadable
  • Getting Real with Contemporary Fiction Guided Practice-Downloadable

Module 9: Showing, Not Telling in World-Building

  • The Importance of Showing (not Telling)
  • The Importance of Showing (not Telling) Activities-Downloadable
  • The Importance of Showing (not Telling) Reflection Questions-Downloadable

Module 10: Integrating World Building into Your Story

  • Total Integration
  • Total Integration Activities-Downloadable
  • Total Integration Activities-Reflection Questions

Module 11: Creating a World Bible

  • Creating a World Bible
  • Creating a World Bible.pdf

World-Building Resources

  • Examples of World Building in Novels
  • More Examples of World Building in Novels
  • World-Building Cheat Sheet-Downloadable

Course Wrap Up

  • Review & Course Feedback
  • How to Write a Novel Online Course
  • How to Write a Cozy Mystery Online Course
  • Course Feedback